Prodney’s Blog: Jack meets stormtroopers, whatever next
In all my years at Park Lane Stables I’ve seen some sights, I can tell you, but this is right up there. What is going on, and why on earth is Jack so calm?
This was at the Rotary Fair, a charity event on Twickenham Green on the 26 May Bank Holiday. I’ve no idea which stall they were on (nobody tells me anything), but naturally we were there. Not me personally as all that travel and standing around is quite a challenge now, but Jack represented the pony team and did so in style.
I fell into being part of the RDA since Natalie bought me before Park Lane Stables became a charity. It’s just as well it happened that way, as I probably wouldn’t have made an RDA pony. I’m told I’m a bit too opinionated and highly strung for that (the cheek of it!), though I have mellowed over the years and it’s easy to be gentle and quiet at my time of life and surrounded by the humans that I am.
Luckily for me I landed a managerial role instead, overseeing the pony team as Natalie did the human team, keeping up standards and showing young ponies the ropes.
Jack’s only 10 years old, and it was clear that he had the right temperament right from the start. Nothing much fazed him, and he loved people too (whereas I will reserve judgement). The right character is essential, but even so, all our ponies undergo constant training to ensure that they stay calm whatever situations are thrown at them. What you humans tend to bluntly refer to as ‘bombproof’. Gentle introductions to as many scary situations as possible to learn that they can take them all in their stride.
I’m pretty proud of this photo of Jack.
I’ve known ponies to panic when something appears in the ‘wrong’ place (from a car parked in a field, to a fallen branch), when a rider is wearing a flappy jacket, when flowers in bud one day are in flower the next, or even at the sudden sight of their own knees! Lots of horses are scared of puddles, and believe that litter bins are monsters waiting to eat them. And don’t get me started on the subject of dogs off leads snapping at their heels.
Now look again at Jack and the stormtroopers. What a model therapy pony he is.
Prodney is Chief Equine Officer (CEO) at Park Lane Stables, and achieved celebrity status following the TV coverage in 2021. And yes, he really is a bit of a star on YouTube and TikTok. Just search for Park Lane Stables and do follow us!